As Oda made his way back to the portal, Elara greeted him cheerfully. "Hello Oda! Welcome back!"
"Hey Elara, I'm thinking of visiting the Demon Kingdom of Netherrend," Oda announced.
"The Demon Kingdom? Why?" Elara inquired with curiosity.
"I've always been intrigued by the portrayal of demons in my world as evil beings. I want to see for myself what demons are really like," Oda explained.
"I see. Experiencing it firsthand will provide you with a better understanding," Elara replied, casting the [Fast Travel] spell. A blue portal materialized, simpler than the [Nexus Travel] spell and lacking visual intricacies of the destination.
"This looks similar to the Nexus Travel spell. Will it take me back to Earth?" Oda asked, intrigued by the new magic.
"No, it won't return you to Earth. You're the only one who can cast [Nexus Travel], and this spell, called [Fast Travel], is different. It requires fewer resources and coordinates marked with the [Mark] spell," Elara explained.
"I see. Alright then, let's go!" Oda exclaimed, stepping into the portal.
Arriving on the other side, they found themselves in a forest near the entrance to the Demon Kingdom. Unlike the forests of the Lostlands, this one resembled Earth's forests.
"Where are we?" Oda questioned.
"We're 600 meters from the kingdom. But before we proceed, I must warn you about the tense relations between humans and demons. Humans' racism toward demons has created distrust," Elara cautioned.
"It's alright. Let's continue," Oda said confidently.
Approaching the kingdom's entrance, Oda noticed guards in weathered armor wielding spears. As he reached the gate, the guards, cautious and slightly nervous, halted him.
"Halt! We need to inspect your belongings," the guards declared, eyeing Oda's casual attire.
With no weapons or wands, the guards eased their stance.
"Hello, human. State your reason for visiting," the guards spoke cautiously.
"I'm here for a tour," Oda replied cheerfully.
"That will be 1 silver coin for a month-long tourist pass," the guards informed.
Elara retrieved a silver coin from her [Subspace] and handed it to Oda, who then presented it to the guards. After confirming its authenticity, the guards issued him a month-long pass.
"Enjoy your tour," the guards bid farewell.
As Oda passed through the gate and entered the kingdom, he can see a city bustling with life. It looks similar to the old age European cities with slightly tall buildings.
Walking to the city, he noticed the wary eyes of the demons on him. For Oda, the demons don't look much different from humans, just with the different pink skin colours on the women and red on the men and the tiny horns.
As Oda wandered through the lively demon city, capturing moments with his phone's high-resolution camera, he was approached by a young demon boy selling flowers. The boy's clothes were worn and tattered.
"Hello, mister. Would you like to buy my flowers?" the boy asked timidly.
"Sure, kid. How much for one?" Oda replied, his curiosity piqued.
"That would be 1 bronze coin each, mister," the boy answered, his eyes reflecting a mix of fear and hope.
"What's your name, by the way?" Oda inquired, wanting to know more about the boy.
"My name is Renn," the boy replied simply.
"Renn... what's your last name?" Oda pressed on.
"Just Renn. I'm not from a noble family, sir," Renn explained.
"I see. My name is Oda," Oda introduced himself.
Turning to Elara, Oda whispered, "Can you give me some silver coins?"
"Sure. It would be easier if you could take them yourself. Here's the key to my subspace," Elara offered, providing Oda access to her magical storage.
"Thanks," Oda acknowledged, taking five silver coins.
"Here, Renn. I'll take five flowers," Oda said, handing Renn the silver coins, which were worth 500 bronze coins.
Surprised by Oda's generosity, Renn hesitated but eventually accepted the coins with gratitude.
"Thank you, sir! I will never forget this. With this, I might be able to help my mom," Renn said emotionally, tears welling up in his eyes.
After giving Renn a moment to compose himself, Oda gently asked, "What kind of disease, Renn? I might be able to help."
Renn's expression shifted to one of fear as he whispered, "Sir, I'm sorry, but I can't talk about it. It could lead to exile."
Understanding the gravity of the situation, Oda nodded. "Alright, let's find a more private place to talk."
Renn led Oda to his humble home, nestled in a corner of the city. Inside, despite the small and shabby appearance, Oda could sense the love and struggle within.
"Okay, Renn. What's the disease you mentioned?" Oda asked gently, sitting down with Renn.
"It's called the Death Cough disease here. My parents caught it a year ago, and my dad passed away a few months ago," Renn explained, his voice filled with sadness.
"What does the disease do?" Oda inquired, wanting to understand more.
"It makes you unhealthy and causes constant coughing. People with this disease are exiled to a village called 'Death Village,' where they eventually succumb to it," Renn shared, his eyes clouded with sorrow.
Oda's mind immediately connected the dots. "Tuberculosis," he murmured to himself. It was a disease that had plagued humanity for centuries until the discovery of antibiotics made it treatable, albeit at a cost.
After a moment of reflection, Oda spoke again, "Renn, I might be able to help. But we need to keep this between us. I'll find a way."
Renn's eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope, grateful for Oda's willingness to help despite the risks involved.